An energy supplier has announced it is giving away free electric blankets to help customers keep warm amid record-high gas and electric bills.
Octopus Energy will be handing out 5,000 blankets to those in need as the cost of living crisis affects nearly all households across the UK. According to Uswitch, it would cost 28p to use an electric blanket for an hour a night - over a week, this would cost someone £1.96.
Heating a blanket for one or two people should prove more energy-efficient than attempting to heat an entire room or house and could help reduce the cost of gas and electricity. Octopus had 5,000 blankets available and warned that "stocks are very low", Hull Live reports.
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In order to receive their free blanket, customers can use the company's online assistance tool which can also provide help and tips for any other energy-related question someone may have. The blankets will be prioritised for those who are in the most financial need and will vary depending on how many Octopus has last.
Household bills have soared for millions across the UK at the start of this month, with a national insurance tax hike, record-high fuel costs and soaring inflation. But one of the most concerning aspects of the cost of living crisis is the increased price cap on energy bills which saw regulator OFGEM raise the cap to £1,971 from April 1.
It means the average household energy bill in the UK will go up by nearly £700 annually while experts have warned millions will be forced into poverty.
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